HOPE THROUGH HEALTH
We're focusing on helping Peru’s healthcare system– specifically the rural areas– where less than half of people have access to medical care.
The Peruvian healthcare system includes two sectors: public and private.
The Ministry of Health and Social Security runs the public system, while laboratories and clinics primarily run the private services. Peru provides quality healthcare services in major cities; however, in the remote areas services are scarce. On top of this, Peruvians who earn lower wages often cannot afford the private services, making health insurance plans crucial.
Luckily, there are insurance plans to protect these lower-income communities– the most popular being Seguro Integral de Salud (SIS) and EsSalud. Both of these provide coverage for general health care, prevention services, and vaccinations.
Fifty percent of Peru’s population lives in poverty. Therefore, the state systems focus on providing the most people with primary care. Even with affordable healthcare in place, though, Peru’s system is still problematic… why?
There's simply not enough resources to save everyone. Peruvians under state programs have to wait up to 40 days to receive an appointment with a practitioner, and in more severe cases requiring surgery, the wait time is 60 days. It is very common for these patients to not receive their needed treatment in time.
Peru's Healthcare System
Healthcare promotes, maintains, and supports citizens' general well-being, initiates mechanisms that help prevent disease, and much more. However, 3.5 billion people worldwide are forced to go without essential health services... they aren’t provided any insurance or access for their dental or medical needs.
While this problem is bigger than our organization, change starts small.
Pinpointing Specific Issues
DALYs, disability adjusted life years, allow us to understand the quantities of premature mortality and disabilities within a population. Evolution Hope has researched the data behind Peru’s DALYs to understand the key diseases that cause mortality.
Within Peru, the main causes of morbidity are:
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Influenza (Pneumonia)
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17,399 deaths per year reported by Peru health
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Many times this is curable, but because of the lack of access to healthcare, citizens are much more vulnerable
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases (HIV/AIDS)
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74,000 people in Peru are currently living with HIV/AIDS
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5,046 deaths from HIV/AIDS reported per year in Peru
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Infant Mortality Rate
- 11.1 deaths to every 1,000 babies born
- Indigenous pregnant women living in poverty are often denied basic healthcare and have little information on prenatal care
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Malnutrition
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Often causes a secondary infection
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